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As I conclude my term as President, I’ve been reflecting on this past year. Although I’ve been part of this College for more than 30 years, this role gave me a new appreciation for the depth of our mission, the strength of our people, and the scope of our work. It has been humbling and deeply meaningful.
In my incoming remarks a year ago, I offered three themes as our compass: Collaboration, Excellence, and Integrity. Looking back, I’m proud those values guided our work – and I’m confident they will continue to guide ACOEM.
Over the past year, collaboration showed up in countless ways. A highlight for me was visiting and presenting at component society meetings across the country. Those conversations reminded me that ACOEM’s strength is its members – your expertise, your commitment to worker health, and your willingness to share solutions. Thank you all for your hospitality and generosity. Listening to you sharpened our priorities in a way no briefing ever could.
That same spirit carried into our external relationships. We worked with key partners including the American Board of Preventive Medicine (ABPM), the American Osteopathic College of Occupational and Preventive Medicine (AOCOPM), the American Association of Occupational Health Nurses (AAOHN), the Aerospace Medical Association (AsMA), the American College of Preventive Medicine (ACPM),the American Industrial Hygiene Association (AIHA), the International Commission on Occupational Health (ICOH), and the International Occupational Medicine Society Collaborative (IOMSC). These conversations highlighted our shared challenges and will hopefully lead to further collaboration in the future.
I want to recognize the International Strategic Planning Task Force for their vision and global perspective – collaboration at its best. A highlight of these collaborations was when we formalized our relationship with ICOH through an MOU and held a joint session at AOHC. That work continues as we’re building joint webinars and expanding our presence at each other’s conferences – so we learn faster, align more closely, and extend our reach. We look forward to creating similar relationships with other international organizations as well.
This year also brought real challenges. NIOSH funding cuts to occupational medicine residency programs threatened the pipeline that sustains our specialty – and the excellence our field demands. ACOEM mobilized quickly to support directors and trainees and to advocate with one clear, evidence-based message. The work isn’t finished, but we showed what’s possible when we act together.
We strengthened excellence by expanding ACOEM’s educational catalog. This includes launching the new Public Safety Course, adding training on the AMA Guides to the Evaluation of Permanent Impairment for the musculoskeletal, nervous, and pulmonary systems, and reviving the OEM Essentials course, which we are making excellent progress on. These offerings support day-to-day practice, lifelong learning, and the next set of OEM leaders.
Behind the scenes, we moved to a new office space and a major priority was hiring a new Executive Director. In the spirit of integrity and stewardship, we conducted the search without a search firm – more hands-on work, but with significant savings for the College. Thank you to the Presidential Line and to Interim CEO Julie Ording for the time, care, and steady leadership that brought us to the right result.
And to the ACOEM staff: thank you. Your professionalism, resilience, and commitment to doing things the right way made this year successful. You are the backbone of this organization.
Although my term as ACOEM’s President is over, I feel grateful and confident in ACOEM’s future. This College is strong because of you. What’s possible is clear when we lead with collaboration, demand excellence, and stay anchored in integrity. We are stronger together and when we speak with one voice both here in the United States and globally.
Thank you for the honor of serving as your President – and for your trust and support. I look forward to continuing this work with you.
Thank you to our Board of Directors and my colleagues across ACOEM for your partnership, counsel, and good humor throughout the year.
And on a personal note, to my family – thank you for your love, patience, and steady support this year. I couldn’t have done this without you.